Cartridge-machine



(N0, Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

H. W. MASON.

CARTRIDGE MACHINE.

- Patented Feb. 7,1882.

. V i INVENTDRI q k M (No Model.) I I 2Sheets-Sheet 2. H W. MASON.

CARTRIDGE MACHINE.

No, 253,213. Patented Feb. 7,1882.

OOOOOOBQ I I0 QOOOOOO OOOODOO v muss-r: I INVENfDRZ UNITED STATES.

PATENT GFFICE.

HENRY \V. MASON, OF SOUTH COVENTRY, CONSEUTIUUT.

CARTRlDGE-MAQHINE.

.s'rncrrrcs'rroiv forming part of Letters iatent at. 253,313. dated February 7, 1882.

l, n i V Application illod March li), 1881. (XoniodeL) To all whom it may concerm- Be it known that l, Haunt W. MASON, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Coventry, county of Tolland, and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines forMaking Cartridges, of which the following is a specification. I ,My'invention :r'elatts' to that class of ma-' chinesknown as cartridgeloadin g machines,

and specially, to that description of such machinesforthemanufacture of blank cartridges, or that description of cartridges requiring a wad to be placed over the powder contained within the.cartridge-shell for securcl y holding the powder therein.

Machines for the manufacture of such described cartridges hereto-fore have heen.so'con-'" structed as to require the wad to be cut by a separate and distinctive machine or device, and thensupplied by an additional device to the punch for, setting the wad into the shell.

My improvement consists in arranging such. machines so that the cutting of the wad and the placing or settingof it into the shell are performed by one punch and by one movement of the said punch, which performs the functions of cutting the wad and setting itinto the shell in the required position at the same instant of time. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a top view of the entire machin Fig. 2, a face or front view of thatpart of t 0 frame in which is set the vertically-reciprocating head carrying the several punches; Fig. 3,2. vertical section of Fig. 2 Fig. 4., a top view ofa section of the machine.

Similar letters referto similar parts th roughout the several views.

-Ais the powder-pressing punch B, the wadcutting and wad-setting punch; G, the crimping or swaging punch; D, the cleaning or discharging punch; P, the frame,-in which is set the, punch-carrier; Q, the reciprocating head; It, the plate forholding the wad-strip in positron while the cutting-punch ascends; S, the strip from which the wads are cut '1, the powsitar-magazine; I, the bottom opining in the magazine; H, the powder-charging plate; J, the opening through the charging-plate to re ce ve and deliver the powder ir. the shell; K,

the cartridge-shell supply or feed plate; L, the guide; M, the carrier-plate; 0, theIopenings in carrier-plate; N, theratchet'plate; EE, the feeding-rollers; G, the'die; W, the set-screw for die G; F, the punchiuljnsting nuts.

- The construction and functions of the diii'erent partsof the machine, with the exception of, my improvements, which new devices or improvements are designated in the several views by the letters B, G, R, E E, and S, are old my invention, excepting so far. as the combination of my new devices therewith, and there- 'fore require no description.

the several devices constitutingv myimprove- ,mentare as follows, vizz The feed-rolicis-E E are placed in the position as shownlin Fig. 3, and an intermittent rotary motion given to them by a ratchet device moved by a reciproeating lever or pawl. The die G, with a cylindrical opening made clear through it, is fixed toa lower portion of the frame and held in position by the set-screw W. The face of this die is on a plane, or nearly so, with the nearly-conjoined periphe'riesof the feed-rollers. The plate R, fixed to the frame, as shown in Fig. 3, bya screw, projects over the face of the die G. Through this plate R is made acylin-' drical opening coincident with the cylindrical opening forming the die G. The strip S is formed out of any proper material, and of a length and width as desired.

The operation and functions of my new devices are as follows, viz: The machine having been set in motion and the shells charged with powder-and conveyed to-the punches in the punches and the die G. At the same time the motion, carry forward the wad-strip S, passing it over the face of the die G and beneath the plate It the required distance, and while the carrying-plates are at rest the punch B (or cutting-die punch) descends, passing through the opening made in the holding-plate It, takes upon the strip of material S, cuts out a wad, forces it down through the opening in the die G, and sets and rams it into the shell, which has been previously charged with powder,

rammed by the punch A, and carried under and well-known devices, and form no part oi Theconstruction,-operation,and functions-of 1 usual and well-known mannerpass under the feed-rollers E E,having an intermittent rotary the die G, ready to receive the wad. The cartridge thus far finished is, by another movement of the machine, carried under the punch G, (which at its lower end is made of a concave shape,) that crimpsor swages the shell at its top over the wad, as required. Another movement carries the completed cartridge under the clearing-punch, and it is by it thrown out finished. The machine is automatic in action, and the pressing, wad cutting and setting, crimping, and discharging punches are simu taneous in action, operated by one and the arms movement of the reciprocating head,

to which they are fixed. The wad-strip S,- in

pa ssing under the cutting-punch B, is cut in a s1 cccssiee single line of holes its entirelength a one side, and then, with its edges reversed,

- 1 assed again through the rollers, andwads cut 1 nt as in its first passage, as shown in Fig. 4.

it is obvious that several modifications of the devices shown may be made, (but that in no manner would differ in principle,) viz:

The magazine may be made to charge two of the openings J of the powdencharging plate H and a double setof puncbes,'A B 0 D, and die G, arranged beside each other, thus prolucing double the number of cartridges in the same time.

The strip S,in'stea d of beingin short lengths, nay be made in coils and taken from a reel by It tion of thefeedrollers. Thelower feed-roller co lld also be dispensed with, and the peripheryot' the upperroller being milled or serrated,

am the wad-strip resting upon. a smooth steel surface; would be drawn forward by pressure of the roller or both rollers may be dispensed with,-and in lieu of them a reciprocating lever dom required, and never.- for small cartridgeshells. I

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination, with the shell-carrying mechanism, of the ra-mrncr A,-the wad cutter and setter,

having feed-rails E E torsupply the wad material-thereto, and holding-down plate R, as described, and the swaging-panch C, operating together as set forth.

2. The combination, with the shell-conveying mechanism, of the rammerA, the wad cutting and setting mechanism, substantially as described, and the swagiug or closing punch C, substantially as set forth;

In combination with the shell-couveycr,

the wad cutting and setting punch and mechanism forsupplying the wad material thereto, substantially as described, and the swagiug or closing punch, all substantially as set forth.

HENRY" WI Mjasorr.

Witnesses: v

LOUIS 8. DAY, EDWARD A. WoarrHEN. 

